Jun 29 Tanaka Shouten | 田中商店

Style: Hakata TonkotsuBowl to Crush: Ramen | らーめん

Tanaka Shouten is a landmark on the Tokyo ramen scene. The shop has commanded respect as one of Tokyo's finest Hakata-style tonkotsu shops since its debut in 2000. There's nothing cutting-edge or innovative going on here, just a beautiful, authentic bowl of Hakata tonkotsu exactly as you would find it in Fukuoaka, Japan's tonkotsu capital: creamy-smooth pork-bone soup, thin straight noodles and negi and wood ear mushroom for toppings.

Standard 'kaedama,' or noodle refill service, is available (just tell the staff 'kaedama' and pay about 100 yen for a second helping of noodles). The usual self-service toppings of pickled ginger, garlic and sesame seeds are on the table.

Fairly huge by Tokyo standards, the shop seats over 35 people. It's also open until 4am. Hakata-tonkotsu is commonly eaten as a late-night snack in Fukuoka. Tanaka Shouten has you covered whenever the pork craving strikes.

The Tanaka Shouten group has close to ten shops in Tokyo, all with different themes and menus. All of the shops are respectable, but this is one is the flagship.